Many people would not think that spiritualism plays a role in their health. I propose to you that indeed it does play a role in our health and our lives. Most people take care of themselves by overseeing physical health by getting needed exams, tests, and seeing doctors when we need to. Most of us would not question doing or taking a prescribed antidote for a physical ailment but we don’t think about doing something for our spirits, our emotional health, and spiritual related emptiness. All of us experience ups and downs in our life and I believe it is partly due to a spiritual richness that some people are better able to cope with life’s twists and turns and retain health. As a nurse I have seen this many times throughout my professional career. I believe that enriching the spiritual side to our selves can enhance our health and outcomes to illness.

In most healing traditions and through generations of healers in the early beginnings of Western medicine, concerns of the body and spirit were intertwined. But with the coming of the scientific revolution and the enlightenment, these considerations were removed from the medical system. Today, however, a growing number of studies reveal that spirituality may play a bigger role in the healing process than the medical community had previously thought (University of Maryland Medical Center).

Spiritual practices can improve our coping skills and promote feelings of optimism and hope, cause us to perform healthy behaviors, and encourage a sense of well being. Spiritual practices also help us to practice positive habits and promote good immune function. It is not solely the practice of healthy habits that promotes health but the attitude that is adapted from being spiritually oriented.

There is empirical evidence that shows that if a person has faith it can increase our resistance to stress, if a person has hope it can help people survive illness and live a longer life, and people who practice forgiveness carry less anger, resentment, and deal better with emotions and stress.

Spirituality is not religion although it can encompass it, but something much more personal and profound. Eckhart Tolle, author of A New Earth, says to be spiritual is to live in a state of openness. “With that openness, a far greater power comes into your life,” he says. “So to be spiritual is to be in touch, connected with that dimension of depth in you.”

It is a belief system that a person has that relates them to the rest of existence, the universe, and a way of living with others. It is something that gives that person a sense of peace and allows for a deeper sense of tranquility when facing challenges. It helps you to view the world around you with loving eyes.

Dr. Wayne Dyer suggests this technique to start your spiritual journey:  

Decide to reduce the noise level in your life. Learn to take time each and every day for quiet contemplation. For example, when you’re driving alone, turn off the constant chatter bombarding your inner world. Try to make meditation a daily practice, even if it’s only a few minutes each day. As Swami Sivananda reminded his students, “Silence is the language of the gods.” Ask in silence, listen in silence, and let silence be the jumping-off point for becoming one with the creative force of the universe.

Spirituality (whatever you choose it to be) comes from within, not magically learned from other sources. You can start a spiritual journey at any time in your life and it can help your health and longevity.

Can you feel the change in the air? Are you ready to welcome a new season? Make a plan to create a healthier you…

Holistic health is something I believe in. Holistic health is characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole. Essentially this means that all the parts that are in you-your body, mind, spirit, emotions, and thoughts all combine to make up what you know as your health status.

In order to really live your healthiest life you have to be well not just physically but emotionally as well.

Fall is a time of change, changing leaves, changing weather, and possibly changes that you can implement in order to live your most fabulous and healthy life!

Physical fitness is not the only indicator that you are healthy. You can work to develop your physical fitness level but you also need to work your mind by thinking positive thoughts, use positive affirmations, be a friend to yourself, and adjust your mindset to one of positivity and optimism. Start today, to dwell more in the moment-not the past and not so much in the future that you cannot live for today. Start today by forgiving those people who have caused you pain and learn to dwell only on forgiving and letting go of anger, sadness, and negative energy. When you “fire” up your mind with a positive charge you will be amazed how far it will lead you.

Use your emotions to work for you, not against you

Your strongest “muscle” is your brain-start working it to have control over your thoughts and take responsibility for your health

Try to discover your spiritual well being-realize that you have a purpose and are not alone in your journey through life 

Remember that your health can be affected by what thoughts you have in your mind 

Practice rituals of gratitude which will lead to happiness and a lighter load in life

Practice forgiveness-use your muscle of your mind to forgive and move on, letting go of pain and toxicity  

1. Starting tomorrow upon waking think of five things you are most grateful for. Give each some thought and feel the happiness and grateful feeling-embracing it with each breath you take.
2. Starting tomorrow write a short note to someone that has caused you pain. Write about how you felt, and tell them you forgive them. You can make this note/letter as short or as long as you want to but write it sincerely. You may choose to throw it away, keep it for a later time, or send it to the person you are writing to. Imagine that this act of forgiveness will lift a stone off your heart and ultimately will help your health and happiness. You do not have to agree with what the person did; just forgive them for the sake of your own well being.
3. Starting now, when a negative thought enters your mind immediately switch the “channel” to a positive thought. This is working that muscle-your mind- to bring you more optimism and joy to your life.

Embrace the fall season with a plan of change for you and your health.

(NaturalNews) Citrus fruits contain a vast array of phytonutrients that are just now being respected for the extraordinary health values they hold. Fruits and vegetables have been renowned for years for providing essential nutrients such as vitamin C. Today, nutritional scientists have discovered a group of bioactive flavonoids that enhance the effects of vitamin C and provide a powerful defense against oxidative stress.

Bioactive flavonoids, vitamin P, are found in living fruits and vegetables. The various bioflavonoids found in citrus include hesperidin, quercetin, diosmin, naringin, & rutin among others. These phytonutrients are vital for proper absorption of Vitamin C. In fact, studies have proven their ability to enhance and prolong the action of vitamin C.

Many vitamin C supplements consist of synthetically derived ascorbic acid. This is virtually ineffective. Without the natural citrus bioflavonoids ascorbic acid is easily oxidized and can actually be harmful to the body. This is why whole food nutrition is so much better than synthetically derived supplements.

Studies have shown benefits of the citrus bioflavonoids on capillary permeability and blood flow. This is due to the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of these phytonutrients. This is especially important for oxygenating tissues and maintaining normal blood pressure. It also reduces swelling, venous backup, and edema. This process also improves respiration in the lungs.

Hesperidin is found most abundantly in the peel and membranous parts of lemons and oranges. Hesperidin is often used for the treatment of varicose veins and hemorrhoids. A deficiency of hesperidin in the diet has been linked with abnormal capillary function, extremity pain & leg cramps.

Rutin and quercetin are the strongest bioflavonoid anti-oxidants. These 2 phytonutrients have very powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. They along with the other bioactive flavonoids have their greatest effects within the blood stream and capillary beds. These have also been shown to be highly effective at preventing and treating varicose veins. These are found in large quantities in the fruits and rinds of lemons, limes, grapefruits, & oranges.

A 1955 study by Dr. Biskind looked at 69 cases of acute respiratory infections that were treated with a whole water soluble citrus bioflavonoid complex. The disorders included the common cold, acute follicular tonsillitis, & influenza. Within 8 to 48 hours all but 3 cases saw a significant decline in infection. Dr. Biskind credited this rapid recovery to improved capillary permeability and the enhanced vitamin C bioavailability.

In 1962, Dr. Robert Cragin used lemon-orange derived bioflavonoids on different groups of athletes in a double blind study. It was found that the athletes taking bioflavonoids experienced less muscle and joint injuries than the control group. These athletes also recovered quicker from similar injuries than the group of athletes not taking the bioflavonoids. The addition of vitamin C to the bioflavonoids (as seen in citrus fruits) appeared to enhance these effects.

The best sources of citrus bioflavonoids are in lemons, limes, grapefruits, oranges, & tangerines. They are in their most potent form when they are picked off the tree in their full ripeness. The longer they are off of the tree the more nutrient value they lose. Once peeled, citrus fruit begin to oxidize and within days can lose a significant portion of their anti-oxidant value.

Enhance Your Citrus BioFlavonoid Consumption:

Do not throw away squeezed lemon… eat the pulp and membrane first.
If the peel is organic, you can shred it into a lemon zest and apply it to meat, salads, etc.
Avoid orange & grapefruit juices due to the high sugar and instead eat the whole fruit which contains fibers and significantly more bioflavonoids.

Sources:

Natural News

www.naturalnews.com

Dr. David Jockers

http://www.man-health-magazine-onli…
http://www.raysahelian.com/hesperid…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutin
http://www.supplementfacts.com/Biof…

About the author:
Dr. David Jockers

Dr. David Jockers owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Ga. He is a Maximized Living doctor. His expertise is in weight loss, customized nutrition & exercise, & structural corrective chiropractic care. For more information go to www.exodushc.com To find a Maximized Living doctor near you go to www.maximizedliving.com

(NaturalNews) Sauerkraut combines the health benefits offered by all cruciferous vegetables (a category which includes cauliflowers and brussel sprouts as well as cabbage) with the probiotic advantages derived from the fermentation process.

Cabbage offers a host of health benefits. It is high in vitamins A and C. Studies have shown the cruciferous vegetables can help lower cholesterol levels. Cabbage also provides a rich source of phytonutrient antioxidants. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties, and some studies indicate it may help combat some cancers. However, this already helpful vegetable becomes a superfood when it is pickled.

The fermentation process used to make sauerkraut was probably first developed centuries ago simply as a means of preserving vegetables for easy consumption throughout the winter. The health benefits derived from pickling vegetables were already well-known to early civilizations. Historical evidence suggests laborers on the Great Wall of China consumed a version of the pickled cabbage dish 2,000 years ago.

Traditional Chinese has long prescribed sauerkraut juice as a home remedy for many common ailments . The armies of Genghis Khan most likely first brought the dish to Europe. The Roman army traveled with barrels of sauerkraut, using it to prevent intestinal infections among the troops during long excursions.

In periods and cultures when natural healing methods fell into disuse, people consumed fewer fermented foods and were subject to more illness. Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) killed many British sailors during the 1700s, especially on longer voyages. In the late 1770s, Captain James Cook circumnavigated the world without losing a single sailor to scurvy, thanks to the foods his ship carried, including sixty barrels of sauerkraut.

Mainstream health experts began to pay renewed attention to sauerkraut after a study published in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2002. Finnish researchers reported that in laboratory studies,a substance produced by fermented cabbage, isothiocyanates, helped prevent the growth of cancer.

Even before the laboratory study, however, alternative health experts extolled the healing benefits of sauerkraut because of the lactic acid bacteria produced as a side-effect of the pickling process.

Healthy human colons contain many beneficial bacteria which feed on the waste left over from our digestion, creating lactic acid. Without these beneficial bacteria the human digestive system becomes home to harmful parasites and yeasts, resulting in the condition of candida.

Sources: Tara Green-author

Natural news

 (NaturalNews) In regard to the health care “reform” measure in 2009, President Barack Obama assured the nation that the 1000-plus page measure was vital -vital- to ensure that all Americans were finally covered by health insurance. In praising its passage in the House, Obama said the measure “will begin the process of fixing what’s broken about our health care system, reducing costs for all, building on what works, and covering an estimated 97 percent of all Americans.”

That prediction isn’t likely to come true, for even a former head of the Democratic Party says not only will millions of Americans lose their preferred coverage after the so-called “Obamacare” legislation kicks in completely, but its price tag is liable to double.

Howard Dean, a physician, onetime Democratic candidate for president and former head of the Democratic National Committee, said this week that when Obamacare takes full effect, as many as one-third of the nation’s small businesses will opt to drop their employee coverage.

“This is very good for small business,” Dean said. “There was a McKinsey study, which the Democrats don’t like, but I do, and I think it’s true. Most small businesses are not going to be in the health insurance business anymore after this thing goes into effect.”

The study pointed out that one of Obama’s key promises – that employees would be able to keep their employer-provided insurance plans – won’t be true for employees of about 45 percent of small businesses, because those same businesses are planning to drop employee coverage because it’ll be cheaper for them to do so.

Which leads to the second of Obama’s two main promises – that his healthcare reform measure won’t add to the nation’s deficit.

As it turns out, employees who are tossed off their employer’s plans will then be eligible to sign up for one of those government (read taxpayer) provided health insurance exchange pools. And that, as they say, is where the real money is.

Regarding Dean’s comment that dropping employee coverage would help small businesses, former New York Gov. George Pataki said, “The only way it’s a help is if they drop coverage and their employees would all of a sudden have to go on the exchange, which is what of course the president promised wouldn’t happen.”

Most estimates of the healthcare reform bill is that it would cost about $970 billion over 10 years, about half of which would be paid for in new taxes. But that was based on a relatively small amount of employees – something like 7 percent, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates – being moved off their employer-provided coverage and into the exchange pools.

But with millions more employees likely to wind up in the exchange, that is liable to add nearly $1 trillion more to the cost of “reform.”

Souce: Natural News

NaturalNews) If you’ve been diligently avoiding the consumption of chemical sweeteners like sucralose, it might surprise you to learn that researchers have found sucralose is in the drinking water supply of more than 28 million Americans.

A recent study tested water samples from 19 water treatment plants in the United States serving more than 28 million people. Researchers looked at the samples for the artificial sweetener sucralose. Samples tested positive for sucralose in the source water of 15 out of 19 plants. Further, treatment failed to remove the sucralose from the drinking water: sucralose was also found in the finished drinking water from 13 out of 19 plants.

Researchers revealed that current water treatment methods fail to effectively remove sucralose from our water supply, leaving millions of Americans to unknowingly consume this artificial sweetener every single day.

Why is Sucralose in Our Drinking Water?

When a person ingests sucralose, a large percentage of it is not broken down and is instead excreted as waste. This waste goes through the water treatment plant, where the sucralose remains intact and goes on to become part of our drinking water supply.

Because sucralose has become one of the most widely used artificial sweeteners in commercial soft drinks and snack foods, it is no wonder that it is making an appearance in our drinking water. If sucralose consumption continues to rise, it stands to reason that everyone drinking public water will be ingesting more of this chemical sweetener as well – whether they want to or not.

Sucralose is Not Safe for Consumption

The public should be aware that the majority of the studies on the safety of sucralose are funded by the creators of the most popular sucralose product on the market. The conflict of interest is obvious and the results of these studies are clearly biased in favor of sucralose.

Independent studies aren’t nearly so positive. Questions about the negative impact sucralose has on male fertility, red blood cell count, kidney health, gut flora balance and body weight are serious concerns generated from the results of these studies. Many researchers and health experts are convinced that sucralose should never have been deemed safe for human consumption.

Common sense dictates that any chemically-processed food is unfit for human consumption. The fact that these substances are now running rampant through our water supply is an atrocity that violates our right to choose what we put into our own bodies.

Sources for this article include:

Elizabeth Walling-author

http://www.naturalnews.com

 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a…

http://naturalsociety.com/sucralose…

Did you know that women are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety than men? The brains of women and men differ in some significant ways. They are different due to genetic factors, our upbringing, our culture, and our experiences as girls and women.

Usually women are known for being more passive and dependent on men, although this is changing in our era. Women’s mental and physical symptoms are usually not taken as seriously as men’s. Even when women go into the emergency room with chest pain they may be treated for anxiety when it really is a heart problem. 

Women tend to visit their health care practitioners more often than men, hence they are usually prescribed more medications for symptoms they are suffering from. It is no secret that women tend to ventilate more and are more verbal about problems and illness where most men tend to keep silent and play the role of the strong character. But sometimes the medications may just mask a real problem. 

Stress can be positive or negative in women’s lives, depending how you view the situation. Stress that does not overwhelm you or is all consuming can be helpful to us in helping to create growth and cause innovative changes in your life. But stress that consumes you can be detrimental to your health. It can affect your immune system and you may become more apt to suffer from mental and physical disease. 

In many women’s lives they are the caregivers and nurturers for the family. Women can have a lot of different stressors in their lives related to family, career, marital difficulties, childbearing issues, domestic violence, and other triggers. If the stress is not handled in a healthy fashion it will eventually cause symptoms and depression can be one symptom of non-productive stress. 

When you are depressed or have a low mood it can affect the rest of your life and relationships. It is not something to ignore if it seems to last longer than two weeks. There are many treatments for depression and it’s important to see your health care provider. A combination of psychotherapy-talking about your issues, possible medication for the symptoms, yoga, meditation, and some time just for yourself are all possible interventions to help you and get you back on track. 

Don’t wait if you feel that you may be suffering from depression. Get the help you deserve.

“There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy.”

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
What an incredible thought! The “…duty” of being happy.”

We accept the duty of doing a good job at work. We might take on the duty of raising a family. Some choose to sign up for the duty of protecting our way of life through military service. Some step into the duty of leading others. But I’d bet few of us ever thought of duty in the context of happiness.

But, is it not a duty? Who is this duty performed for? Or, to put it another way, who benefits from someone doing their duty of happiness? Every person they interact with in any way. Think about it. Who would you rather be around-a negative, grumpy, pessimist, or a positive, happy person?

The happiness can spread even if you don’t notice its effect. Years ago while doing a months long training project, nearly every morning on my way there, I’d see this same elderly woman strolling along the street reading a book. She was smiling to herself while she walked and read. It didn’t matter if it was raining or sunny, she smiled as she went her way. I looked forward to seeing her smiling face in the morning. Though she and I never met-she had a positive affect on me.

One of the fastest ways to begin moving from a negative mental state into a positive one–is shift your physiology. If you start feeling stress or tension–move your body! Stand erect! Take multiple deep breaths! Put your shoulders back, shake your arms and legs–and MOVE! Lift your head and walk briskly–dance–jump–run–hop–for 5 minutes. And as you do that, think for a moment about a few of the good things in your life. Even during tough times, there’s still good stuff to focus on. This process begins to shift your mental perspective.

As you make this shift, not only does everyone benefit from your positive state, but the real winner is you. Accepting the duty of happiness is you taking good care of you. Happiness is like a tonic for both mind and body. Be sure you get at least your minimum daily requirement of this nutrient every day
You need to make sure that when interacting with others they don’t affect your attitude. If someone can trigger your anger, frustration, sadness, fear, guilt, etc.–at that moment they have control of your mind! Don’t give away your personal power.

Think about it. If someone behaves in a way that gets to you, and you respond with upset feelings, or if they say something that jerks your chain, haven’t they just controlled you on some level? Without a doubt….
There are people who get great satisfaction from watching others dance to their tune. Don’t give them the satisfaction. The stress you get from reacting to them is mentally and physically bad for you.

The negative self talk eliminator is a mental process where you get a handle on your brain. You send your thinking the direction you want it to go–instead of letting it run wild in the wrong direction. Grab on to your thoughts and push them the direction you desire.

This doesn’t mean you never get upset. Just refuse to let your emotions swing where you don’t want them for more than a moment.

It is well documented that the majority of emotions (even strong emotions) last only two or three minutes, unless you keep thinking in ways that keep focusing on that emotion. This includes buying into someone else’s negative attitude or emotional state.

You can begin to give the boot to those mental gremlins that poison your attitude. Refuse to focus on the negative. Rebel against the negative self talk that leads you away from the great life you can have. All good begins with a positive state of mind–a self-motivated, proactive attitude.

Don’t let others run your brain. Choose your own healthy stream of thought.

Go for it! You can achieve your dreams! Learn how to blow-away negative thinking, stress and worry at http://www.NegativeSelfTalkEliminator.com The Best of Success to You, Dr. Larry Iverson

When we experience a change of season there is a possibility that you may be among the millions of Americans that experience seasonal affective disorder-a depression that is triggered by reduction in your exposure to the sun during the winter months.

The symptoms of SAD can include an inability to concentrate, change in your sleep pattern, a change in your appetite, low energy and mood, tearfulness and a loss of interest in activities.

Scientists have not yet fully explained this phenomenon but it is probably due to changes in the production of melatonin and a reduction in serotonin which is linked to depression. Many people go untreated for this and hence can suffer needlessly.

A treatment that does not include taking any medications would be bright light therapy. This therapy involves sitting in front of full-spectrum bulbs for a short period of time each day (something like 30 minutes per day). Doing this can reverse the neurochemical changes that seem to cause the SAD. These bright light devices cost about $150.00 but are well worth it to combat this problem.

 By taking control of your health you can enjoy more energy, become more productive and enjoy life more.

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There’s an old saying “what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger” which could be accurate.

Many times when people fight life threatening illness and face difficult obstacles they revise their life and have a different feeling for what meaning there is in life. It seems to renew their spirits. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all learn to do this naturally without having to face such a huge challenge? Think about your life and how to renew your spirit when needed to change your life for the better and have a healthier you.

To renew your spirit you have to become aware of yourself. Having greater awareness of your thoughts, actions, and everyday life helps you to grow, become healthier, and learn more intensely what your life path should be.

Yoga, meditation, painting, music, are some ways that you can gain greater awareness of your body and psyche. There are other ways that you can practice freeing yourself a little and then being able to have tangible health benefits.

1. It’s healthy to develop a flexible and adaptive mindset. When you can experience a less structured and traditional viewpoint at times in your relationships you can learn to tolerate other’s ideas and even learn from them. When you open your mind to different thoughts and become less opposed it can make you feel freer. Feeling more liberated helps you stay healthy.
2. It’s healthy to cultivate self-love. When you feel good about yourself you take better care of yourself. The more you love and respect your body and mind, no matter what faults there are, the more you are able to listen to them to guide you to make healthy life-style choices. When you love yourself you want to nourish yourself. The more you love and are in tune with yourself the more you will be able to enjoy your life.
3. It’s healthy to talk to yourself with care and compassion. Be conscious how you talk about yourself to others. When you really treat yourself well this will automatically affect how others treat you and how you treat others. It’s acceptable and advantageous to treat yourself and others in an engaging, respectful manner, being open to the universe opens up doors for you.

Your spirit, renewal, meditation, yoga, music, self-love, self-care, compassion and flexibility can all help you to achieve a healthier life.